The Independent Published Monday, May 28, 2001

41 students graduate at Boka Loho Skill Centre

Forty-one students of "Boka Loho" Skill Centre were on Friday 18th May
awarded certificates and prizes having successfully completed the three-year
course in various skill subjects in the institute. In his opening remarks,
Buba Senghore president of "Boka Loho" and a founding member of the
institute said Boka Loho started operation in The Gambia as an NGO six to
seven years ago with Dumo Saho as the initiator. According to him, they
started collecting materials from Sweden, America and other parts of Europe
to build the institution. He said "Boka Loho" is a structured fully
registered NGO and one of the oldest skill centres in the country.

He described Dumo Saho as a patriot whose aim is to work towards the
development of The Gambia. He finally appealed to government to help them
with a piece of land, which he said is one of their main problems. In her
keynote address Adelaide Sosseh Gaye who deliberated on poverty said that
The Gambia is among the least developed and poorest countries in the world,
attributing the ugly situation to high population growth and urban migration
among others. She said youths, women and farmers are the worst affected with
limited access to education and healthcare among others. She pointed out
that government is aware of the potentials the skill centres can contribute
in the fight against poverty which she described as a right step in the
right direction by all skill centres operating in the country.

She warned the students to work hard in order to succeed in life. She also
warned female students to be creative in order to be independent and to
share the knowledge gained with the less fortunate students. In his annual
address Abubacarr Sinayoko principal of the school said "this event marks
the third graduation ceremony of the "Boka Loho Skill Training Centre since
its inception in 1996." This institution he said is a product of the Youth
Development and Enterprise Programme of the "Boka Loho" organisation of the
Gambia with the primary objective of catering fort he least privilege
members of society particularly the youth with special emphasis on the
empowerment of girls and women. He said a careful review in retrospect, past
records show that they have registered batches 90% average pass mark during
the three consecutive batches which he said is a very attractive record.
Alhagie Badjie delivered the vote of thanks.









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